My kids (6yo) know that Santas in grottos are not the 'real' FC, but how do I explain who they are?

[heritagewarrior]

I didn't tell them this, they worked it out for themselves. We are off to see Father Christmas in Legoland later on, and I need an explanation for when they ask. They are not doubting that he exists yet, they just don't believe that a guy in a suit in a grotto is the real deal. Can't remember what flannel I gave them last year - any (rapid) suggestions gratefully received.....

He's a kind of ambassador. He works for the big man and helps to find out what each child wants for Christmas. He also helps Santa decide if you are on the naughty list.

What ooeermissus said.

They're his helpers. Because the man himself can't be everywhere at once and needs to supervise the elves anyway.

They are Helpers here as well.

He is one of Santa's helpers of course! Santa can't possibly have time to visit all the towns while he is busy getting things ready for Christmas, so he sends some helpers out to find out who has been good and what people would like.

I thought everybody knew that

They are helpers. It all makes perfect sense.

Far more sense than a magical fat man with flying reindeer who can deliver all over the world in one night!

No Owl you've got it wrong.

Doctor Who helps Santa on Christmas eve so that he has enough time to do everyone.

The helpers are just for the shopping centres/ school party

What everyone else said, they're his helpers.

Of course Father Christmas can't be everywhere, he's a very busy man.

They're his helpers....but you never know, one day it might be the real one.....

We were told they were elves. Elves are usually little, but every now and then, big elves are born. These are very special elves. The little elves stay at the North Pole to help Santa, making toys, wrapping presents, feeding the reindeer, getting the sleigh ready. They're little, so they need a grown -up like Santa to mind them. It's a very busy time for Santa, and he can't leave the North Pole, or who knows what would happen. But he also wants to give every boy and girl the chance to get a special message from Santa, and to say whatever they want to to him, as well as getting a little treat for being so good in the run up to Christmas, and this is where the big elves help out. They travel all around the world, to lots of different places so that boys and girls can come to see them. They dress like Santa, to show that they are part of Santa's team. They're not the real Santa, but they are part of his special big elf Santa team, and talking to them is as good as talking to Santa, so that's why we call them Santa. Each evening, the big elves send all the messages from the little boys and girls back to Santa.

Well, thank you very much for all the advice - in the end, I'm going to need to save it for next year, as the question never came up. The Legoland grotto operation was extremely slick and the Big Man came across as entirely authentic. But next year.......BTW, when do children stop believing these days??

I say that they are Santa's helpers but sometimes, if he's not too busy, the real Santa comes along so you can never be sure it's not the real one

they've always been Helper Santas for us too

explains why no magic will happen when you go and see them, and why it is indeed possible that the one at school does look an awful lot like Oliver's dad.

"Santa is magic, of course it's Santa" Said with a wink and a big grin.

I told mine the good ones were helpers but that the shop santas and santas on the street were human Christmas decorations

Some santas are so bad !!